Frequency changing switch



Oct. 22, 1929'. A. M. TROGNER I I 1,732,547

FREQUENCY CHANGING SWITCH Filed Oct. 8. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATmM/y.720 my,

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ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1929. A. M. TROGNER FREQUENCY CHANGING- SWITCH FiledOct. 8, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :EI E E IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1929. A. M. TROGNER 1,732,547 FREQUENCY CHANGING SWITGH Filed Oct. 8. 1926 {Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNE'Y Oct. 22, 1929. A. M. TROGNER 1,732,547

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BY Maw ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEARTHUR M. TROGNER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,,ASSIGNOR-TO WIRED RADIO,

' INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FREQUENCY CHANGINGSWITCH Application filed October 8, 1926. Serial No. 140,377.

My invention relates broadly to signal transmission systems and moreparticularly to the construction of a frequency changing switch.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a frequency changingswitch for high frequency signaling circuits having relatively smallelectrical capacity for eliminating the absorption-and radiation ofenergy at points in the transmission circuits where this would introduceundesired losses.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low capacity switchconstruction for a frequency change switching system where the length ofthe leads from the switching apparatus to associated apparatus ismaintained extremely short.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frequency changingsystem in which an inductance coil is carried by a frame structure,which is journaled for rotation, with contact devices disposed atselected points.

around the inductance coil for cooperation with fixed contacts adjacentthe coil whereby desired portions of the inductance coil may beeffectively included in anelectrical circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rotatable inductanceand switch structure with means for establishing good electricalconnection with one end of the inductance while the inductance is freeto revolve for the establishment of connection with selected pointsthereon for the inclusion of the desired amount of the inductance in anassociated electrical circuit.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means forestablishing connection with a fractional part of a turn of aninductance system for securing accurate tuning of the circuit in whichthe inductance is associated.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an inductance systemincluding a rotatable coil structure with a plurality of cooperatingcontacts adjacent thereto with means for accurately adjusting theposition of the contacts with respect to the turns of the inductanceafter a broad setting of the cooperative position of the contacts andassociated switch blades has been obtained for the accurate setting of acircuit for a definite high frequency.

Other and further objects of my invention will be'understood from thespecification hereinafter following by reference-to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frequency changing switch of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the switchingapparatus in a plane adjacent one of the end supports of the apparatus;Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View illustrating the relation of one of thecontact members and a connecting blade as employed in the switchingapparatus; Fig. 4 illustrates a method of establishing connection withthe end of the inductance whererotation is permitted through a distanceof approximately 120 degrees; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of amodified construction of my inductance system where means are providedfor establishing connection with fractional parts of a turn of theinductance at the end thereof; Fig. 6 is'a perspective view showing oneof the contact devices employed in the modified construction of Fig. 5;Fig. 7 is a schematic View of the inductance system illustrating thearrangement of Figs. 5 and 6 for adjusting the inductance at one end tofractional parts of a turn; Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a further modifiedform of my inductance system where provision is made-for the moreaccurate adjustment of the inductance values after a broad setting ofthe inductance values has been obtained.

In high frequency transmission systems in which control of frequency isobtained by employment of piezo electric crystal devices, the addedcapacities and inductances in the connecting leads and auxiliary partsof the transmitting apparatus become comparable in magnitude to thecapacity and inductance of the circuit proper. By reason of the factthat these added inductance and capacity values cannot be readilyvaried, being inherent in the structure of the apparatus, the seriouslylimit the flexibility of the circuit a j ustments. In addition theseadded capacity and inductance values introduce undesired couplin s thatby-pass energy from parts of the circult where it would be useful andthis results in a reduction in the efliciency of the transmitter.

By my invention I provide a frequency change switch in which the lengthof the leads from the tap points on the coil to the switch contacts ismaintained as short as possible. The capacity between the leads and thecontacts is thereby reduced to a relatively low value. The inductanceproper is mounted to rotate in such manner that contact making blades ormembers may be secured directly to the inductance coil at desired pointsfor cooperation with stationary contacts positioned at desired pointsthereby eliminating all inductances inherent in flexible conductorsheretofore employed. Capacities between the stationary contacts arereduced to a neglible value by placing them at widely separated pointsabout the circumference of the inductance. The design of my inductancesystem. is such that the desired values of inductance may be obtainedwithin an extremely small space. Special provision isimade forestablishing connections for desired freguencies with selected lengthsof the inuctance.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character 1represents the supporting structure provided with extended arm members 2and 3 and a bracket 4: upon which the conductive strip members 5, 6 and7 are mounted extending longitudinally to the axis of the rotatableinductance. Contact devices in the form of spring jaws carried onadjustable U-shaped holders that are slidable along the conductivestrips 5, 6 and 7, are shown at 8, 9, 10, 11 and 21, respectively. Theinductance coil is in the form of a strip 17 wound upon a rotatableframe made up of end portions 12 and longitudinally extending insulatedmembers 14. The shaft 15 is journaled in the frame structure 1 in suchmanner that the entire inductance may be moved through a small are bymeans of handle 16. The strip 17 is rovided with switch blade memberssecured to selected points about the strip in cooperative relation tothe stationary contacting jaws. I have repre sented these switch bladedevices in the form of S-shaped clamps at 18, 19, 20,- 22 and 26, eachhaving an extended blade portion shaped to enter between cooperatingside portions which form ipping aws for the stationary contact mem ersas represented at 8*, 9, 10, 21 and 11, respectively. The switch bladesmay be milled from solid stock or bent to shape from metallic strips asrepresented.

In each instance the spring jaws as represented in Fig. 3 at 8 may beadjusted in position along the conductive strip by means of the U-shapedcarrier and may be fixed at a selected position along the conductivestrip by means of a set screw represented at 8".

For the pur ose of illustrating the invention, the rotata le inductancehas been shown in Fig. 1 as being arranged for movement to meats? twodifi'erent positions. In the position shown, the switch blade 18 is inengagement with spring jaws 8, while switch blade 20 is engaged withspring jaws 10. By grasping the handle 16 and shifting the switch to thesecond position the switch blades 18 and 20 leave the jaws 8 and 10while blades 19 and 26 enter the jaws 9 and 11*, respectively. A similarprocess occurs with respect to contacts on the other side of the switchwhich are hidden from view in the drawing in Fig. 1. Any desired numberof conductive strips with cooperating contacts and switch blades may beemployed, depending upon the arrangement of the electrical circuits.

In Fig. 4 I have shown one of the methods for making contact with thecommon connection at the end of the inductance when rotation within thelimits of 120 degrees is necessary and where good electrical connectionmust be established eliminating all fiexible contacts of varyinginductance. From frame structure 30 I provide an extending resilientstrip 29 which is in turn secured to a resilient strip 28 which connectswith the end of the inductance strip 17 at the point 27 The resilientstrips 29 and 23 are normally positioned as represented in Fig. 4intermediate the limits of movement of the inductance switch. One limitof movement shows the resilient strips in dotted line p0- sition 28 and29. The other limit of rotation shows the resilient strips bentto'position 29 and 28".

In order to secure more accurate adjustment of the inductance byincludingi'ractional parts of a turn of inductance in the circuit, thatis a third of a turn, the construction shown in F ig. 5 may be employed.By this arrangement three auxiliary contact strips 31, 32 and 33 areprovided at spaced intervals around the end of the inductance coil.These strips are connected by conductors an and 35 to a common point 36.A connection 38 is taken from a point 37 which is equidistant from allof the contact strips 31, 32 and 33. On the last turn of inductance 17there is secured at every quarter of a turn the S-shaped strip members39, 40 and 41 carrying resilient face late members 42, 43 and 44 whichare move into abutment or wiping contact with a selected one of thecontact strips 31, 32 or 33. Corresponding positions of the switchblades on the inductance strip 17 may be selected for securing anaccurate length of inductance in the electrical circuit. The inductancemay be rotated to adavance or retard the inductance by thirds of a turnto obtain the adjustment required. In some instance it is desirable toplace the common connection to the inductance coil at some point alongthe coil and not necessarily at the end thereof. This is used whereverit is desired to provide tap-off points on the The switching arrangementof employing the end adjustment feature of Fig. 5 is illustratedschematically in Fig. 7. As shown, corresponding contacts numbered 1 arein engagement with contacts carried by strip members 32, 5, 6 and 7. Byrotation of the coil 17 in clockwise direction the next set of contactswhich have been numbered? will be brought into connection with contactscarried by members 31, .5, 6 and 7 Upon further rotation of the switchin a clockwise direction the contacts numbered 3 will be brought intoengagement with member 32.

'by means of wing nuts 2, 3 and 24 operating on bolt members free to bemoved in arcuate slots 1, 1" and 1, respectively in the framestructure 1. By this arrangement the contact jaws are adjustable bothlaterally and longitudinally with respect to the turns of the inductanceso that an accurate amount of inductance may be selected for inclusionin the transmitting circuit.

In lieu of the rotatable drum construction of the inductance I mayconstruct the inductance in the form of a flat spiral coil which isrotatable about its center in the plane of the coil with the fixedcontact supporting strip arranged parallel to the coil and in radialpositions. By this arrangement the same electrical adjustn'ients in thecircuits maybe obtained although the'mechanical arrangement of the partsis substantially different.

I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments,but I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made andthat no limitations upon my invention are intended other than areimposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. A frequency changing switch comprising an inductance member, meansfor rotatably moving said inductance member, a plurality of switchblades secured to selected positions on said inductance member, and aplurality of contact members arranged adjacent said inductance memberfor cooperation with corresponding switch blades upon rotativ e movementof said inductance member to a. selected position.

2. In a frequency changing switch, a frame structure, a drum mounted forrotative movement in said frame structure, an inductance wound upon'saiddrum, a plurality of switch blades secured to selected points along saidinductance, bers carried by said frame structure and arranged inposition for cooperating with said switch blades when said inductance isrotated to selected positions.

3. In a frequency'changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable drumjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by said drum, aplurality of switch blades secured to selected points along saidinductance, contact members corresponding in number to the number ofsaid switch blades, said contact members being supported by said framestructure longitudinally of said drum in positions cooperating with saidswitch blades whereby rotative movement of said drum effects anengagement of a selected set of said switch blades with correspondingcontact members while disengaging another set of switch blades fromcorresponding contact members.

4. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable drumjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by said drum, aplurality of switch blades secured at selected points to the turns ofsaid inductance, a plurality of conductive strip members supported bysaid frame structure and extending longitudinally of said drum at pointsspaced about the periphery of said drum, contact members supported bysaid conductive strip members each having conductive faces thereon forestablishing connection with-the switch blades on said inductance, andmeansfor rotating said drum for effecting an engagement of a set ofswitch blades with correspondingcontact members while disengaginganother set of switch blades from corresponding contact members.

5. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable drumjournaled in said 'frame structure, an inductance carried by said drum,a plurality of conductive strips carried, by said frame structureextending in spaced relation longitudinally of said drum, a plurality ofswitch blades arranged to be secured in selected positions along saidina plurality of contact mem- Q ductance and a corresponding number ofcontact members slidably mounted on said conductive strips and movablelongitudinally with respect to the axis of said drum to a positioncorresponding to the path of move ment of selected sets of said switchblades whereby rotation of said drum effects an engagement between aselected set of said switch blades and said contact members whiledisengaging another set of said switch blades from a correspondingnumber of said contact members. v

6. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable memberjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by saidrotatable member, a plurality of switch blades secured to selectedpoints along said inductance, a corresponding number of fixed contactmembers arranged to be 'engaged by said switch blades during rotation ofsaid inductance, and a resilient strip member secured to a selectedpoint on said induc tance and to said frame structure for establishingconnection with said inductance throughout the period of rotativemovement thereof. i

7. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable memberjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by saidrotatable member, a plurality of switch blades secured to selectedpoints along said inductance, a corresponding number of fixed contactmembers arranged to be engaged by said switch blades during rotation ofsaid inductance, and a resilient strip member socured to the end of saidinductance and to said frame structure for establishing electricalconnection with said inductance throughout the distance of its rotationwhile effecting an engagement of one set of said vswitch blades with acorresponding numberof said contact members and a disengagement ofanother set of said switch blades from others of said fixed contactmembers.

8. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable drumjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by said drum, aplurality of switch blades adjustably secured at selected points to theturns of in ductance on said drum, contact members carried by said framestructure for cooperation with said switch blades upon rotation of saiddrum, and means for establishing connection with a fractional part ofthe end turn of said inductance for accurately selecting the effectivevalue of said inductance.

9. In a frequency changing switch the combination of a frame structure,a drum roe tatably mounted in said frame structure, an inductancecarried by said drum, switch blades secured to selected points on saidinductance, contact members supported from said frame structure forco-operative engagement with said switch blades upon rotation of saidinductance, and a separate set of switch blades secured to the last turnof said inductance with a cooperating set of separate contact membersfor completing connection with a fractional part of the last turn ofsaid inductance with one set of said first men tioned switch blades forengagement with a corresponding set 'of contact members.

10. In a frequency changing switch a frame structure, a rotatable drumjournaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by said drum, aplurality of switch blades adjustably secured at selected points to theturns of inductance on said drum, contact members carried by said framestructure for cooperation with said switch blades upon rotation of saiddrum, a plurality of separate switch blades secured to fractional partsof the last turn of said inductance, and a set of cooperating fixedcontacts disposed about the last turn of said inductance whereby afractional part of the last turn of said inductance may be included incircuit with the remainder of said inductance upon rotation of saidiriductance to a selected position.

11. In a frequency changing switch the combination of a frame structure,a drum ro- -tatably mounted in said frame structure, an

inductance carried by said drum, switch blades secured to selectedpoints on said inductance, contact members supported from said framestructure for co-operative engagement with said switch blades uponrotation of said inductance, separate switch blades secured tofractional parts of the last turn, separate contact members eachconnected in common and arranged to cooperate with said last mentionedset of switch blades for efiectively including a fractional part of saidinductance in circuit with a selected portion of the remainder of saidinductance.

12. In a high frequency switching system a frame structure, a rotatabledrum journaled in said frame structure, an inductance carried by saiddrum, a plurality of switch blades secured at selected points along saidinductance, a plurality of circumferentially movable frame memberspivotally mounted on said frame structure each of said frame memberscarrying contact devices for cooperation with said switch blades,rotative movement of said drum effecting an engagement or disengagementof sets of said switch blades with said contact devices said contactdevices being adjustable laterally and longitudinally with respect tothe turns of said inductance.

1.3. A frequency changing switch compris ing a rotatively mountedinductance member. a plurality of switch blades secured to selectedpositions on said inductance member, and a plurality of contact membersarranged adjacent said inductance member for coopera tion withcorresponding switch blades upon rotative movement of said inductancememher to a selected position.

14. In a frequency changing switch, a frame structure, an inductancemember mounted for rotative movement in said frame structure, aplurality of switch blades secured to selected points along saidinductance, a plurality of contact members carried by said framestructure and arranged in position for cooperation with said switchblades when said inductance is rotated to selected positions.

15. In a frequency changing switch. a frame structure, a rotativelymounted inductance journaled in said frame structure. a plurality ofswitch blades secured to selected points along said inductance, contactmembers corresponding in number so the number of said switch blades,seid connect members being supported by said frame structure inpositions cooperating with said switch blades whereby rotative movementof said induc-. tance efi'eci-s an engagement of a selected set of saidswitch blades Wish corresponding contact members While disengaginganother set of switch blades from corresponding contact 10 membersARTHUR M. TROGNER.

